DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9022, 29 October 1892, Page 5

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

ANNUAL CHURCH MEETING. The annual meeting of Church members in the Anglican Diocese of Auckland, generally held in connection with the sitting of the Diocesan Synod, took place last night, in the Choral Hall. There was a large attendance. His Lordship Bishop Cowie presided, and amongst the other clergy present were the Ven. Archdeacon Dudley, the Revs. G. MacMurray, W. Calder, W. Beatty, C. M. Nelson, J. Bates, A. G. Purchas, J. Haselden, J. K. Davis, F. Gould, and a number of country clergymen, who have come to Auckland for the Synod session. There was a choir in attendance, Mr. V. Rice officiating as accompanist and conductor, and the audience joined in singing the hymns which intervened between the papers read. The hymns selected, and of which copies were on the programmes placed in the hands of the audience, were " The Church's One Foundation," " Through the Night of Doubt," " Thy Kingdom Come," and the "Te Deum." The subject upon which six papers were to be read was " The History, Claims, and Responsibilities of the Church of England." The Rev. G. Mao Murray opened with a paper, " The Church, Catholic in its Teaching and Apostolic in its Origin." In the course of a well-considered essay he set out that the Church of England was catholic in faith and apostolic in its origin; that Christ founded one Church, and the Church of England was a member of it. He traced the only Mosaic Church and its development into the Christian Church, and maintained the continuance of the Church of England in Apostolic fellowship by their doctrines, sacraments, and liturgy. In conclusion, he quoted two eminent nonconformist divines, the Rev. Mr. Phelps and the Rev. Mr. Beecher, who bore testimony to the great service rendered to the Church of Christ by the adherence of the Church of England to Apostolic order. Mr. S. Luke read a paper on the continuity of the Church through and after the Reformation, and after giving an outline of the early history of the Church, he pointed out that Christianity was established in Britain in the Apostolic days, quoting circumstantial evidence to show that it was visited by St. Paul. Tracing the history of the English Church and the Reformation, he pointed out that the Church of England existed prior to the Reformation. It was the Holy Church of England whose rights were declared inviolate by the Charter of King John, confirmed afterwards by Edward 111., and the ecclesiastical legislation of Henry VIII. was not intended for a new Church but for an established Church. He went on to say that the Reformation originated not outside but inside the Church, and no Church property was taken from one body and given to another. He claimed that the Church was a progressive Church, and instanced the revivals of Wesley and the Oxford revival 50 years ago. The Rev. J. Bates read a thoughtful paper on " The Church's Position with regard to National Life," and Mr. J. W. Tibbs dealt with The Church's Position in Regard to Modern Thought and the Developments of Science." Mr. C. M. Calder read a paper on "The Church in its Devotional Asoect." The Rev. W. Calder waa down for a paper en " The Church as an Efficient Power, but owing to the lateness of the hour; and the fact that he considered the audience had had enough of churchmanship for one night, he decided not to read it. A collection to defray expenses was taken n P. •■••••,